GLUTAMIC AND ASPARTIC ACIDS AND SUCROSE IN THE DIET OF THE FLOUR BEETLE, TRIBOLIUM CONFUSUM (TENEBRIONIDAE)

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Abstract
The effects of three factors on larval development were studied in synthetic media based on a mixture of the 10 essential amino acids. Replacement of one third of the cornstarch with sucrose as carbohydrate source increased time to pupation and decreased larval survival. Including glutamic acid, even as partial replacement for essential amino acids, accelerated larval development and increased survivorship. Aspartic acid also decreased time to pupation and is apparently equivalent to glutamic acid in this respect. However, no evidence for mortality decrease through aspartic acid addition was observed; in fact, statistical analysis resulted in computation of a non-significant semilethal effect of this factor.
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